Seasons of the Sea

Storms from the north and west build enormous swells and bring winter squalls.
Tendrils of freshwater flow out the Golden Gate, swirling into the gulf, changing its chemistry.

Coastal waters are at their coldest. Gray whales pass near shore en route from Arctic feeding grounds to Mexican breeding grounds, while elephant seals, fattened by months foraging at sea, gather on beaches to enact primal mating and pupping rituals. Seabirds 'prospect' for nesting sites on the Farallones and coastal cliffs. Between storms the air shimmers brilliantly above the frigid ocean surface.

Brisk spring winds churn up cold, nutrient-rich waters from the deep ocean, and sunlight sparks photosynthesis in microscopic sea plants. Tiny animals feed on them, and in turn become food for fish, seabirds, sharks and whales. Seabirds breed in raucous colonies on islands and cliffs, and giant whales move in to feast on fish and krill. The Pacific High pressure system holds storms at bay, sometimes shrouding the coast in fog.

This is prime seabird nesting season (look for Tufted Puffins!) at the Farallon Islands, and dinnertime for hungry humpbacks and blue whales in surrounding sanctuary waters.

As the winds slow or reverse direction in the fall, the ocean 'relaxes,' upwelling ceases, and warm surface waters shift back toward the coast. Larval fish and invertebrates are swept inshore to settle and grow. Seabird rookeries fall quiet as the last chicks fledge. The water becomes clearer, inviting white sharks to delectable seal meals.

Giant leatherback sea turtles and mola mola sunfish dine on jellies and squid, while flocks of shearwaters feed and fatten before returning to New Zealand nesting sites. This is a welcome stopover for other migrating birds along the Great Pacific Flyway.